State to maintain control of St. Louis schools

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A state-imposed board will maintain control of St. Louis’ struggling public school district — Missouri’s biggest — until at least 2014.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Missouri Board of Education unanimously signed off Tuesday on the special three-member board’s to continue shepherding the district until the school system fully rebounds.

The school system since 2008 has improved its test scores, attendance and graduation rate. Yet fewer than 30 percent of students at any grade level passed standardized tests last year.

Tuesday’s vote followed the October recommendation of a panel formed by the state education department. That group found that returning the district to an elected board now could crimp progress.